Lumber marking machine



March 5, 1963 A. P. JENSEN, 3,079,963

LUMBER MARKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8, 1960 I N w w N m 0 u i 0 u- N IO 6 E o L m N O I N p m l EA 3 F 5 NON o 0 U. f

v INVENTOR Alfred P. Jensen 7MJW i he rates This invention relates to a machine for marking lumher with designated markings at predetermined spaced intervals.

The purpose of the markings may be for premarking the lumber which is designed for use as top or bottom plates so as to mark the location for studs, rafter members and the like.

In such markings it is necessary in many instances that the marking be at predetermined spaced intervals from at least one end of the board.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel semi-automatic device which will trim pieces of lumber to a desired length and mark the desired indicia on the lumber at locations in registration with one end of the board.

The device of this invention is used in association with a trim saw having live rollers which are arranged to carry pieces of lumber to an abutment with the trim saw registered a predetermined distance from the abutmentso that the trim saw will operate to cut the board to the predetermined length.

In-this invention there is provided a plurality of abut ments' which may be selectively actuated for boards of dilferent lengths. In registration with the abutments are a plurality of individually actuated printing heads. Each of the printing heads being operative when actuated to mark the lumber. Because the printing heads are in alignment with the respective abutments the printing heads Will print indicia on the lumber which is in registration with the end of the piece of lumber which is nested against an actuated abutment. Thus the printed indicia will be in aligned registration relative to the. end of the piece of lumber.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanism which will cause lumber to be moved down a longitudinal path to a selected abutment and in which printing heads are arranged to lift thelumbcr otf of the moving means and hold the lumber in a locked fixed position while simultaneously printing the information carried by the printing heads on the lumber. A saw may be provided to trim the opposite end of the piece of lumber while the lumber is thus held in position by the printing mechanism. When the printing mechanism-is released the machine in addition incorporates a device for moving the lumber out of contact with the abutment and carrying the lumber onto a stacking station of 'conventional design.

A feature and advantage of this invention is that the printing device has the dual function of imprinting information on the pieces of lumber as well as holding the lumber in position While the lumber is sawed or otherwise processed.

A further feature and advantage of this invention is that the device is operable to print and trim lumber of various lengths with a minimum of wastage by providing the marked indicia at regular spaced intervals along the length of the piece of lumber in sp ced regular intervals relative to one end or" the piece of lumber.

ther objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawing in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each ofthe several views.

atet

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional View showing the principal embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view in partial schematic form.

H6. 3 is a view of lumber marked in a predetermined pattern.

FIG. 4 is a view of lumber of a different length marked with the pattern similar to the pattern of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawing there is provided a row of live rollers forming a live chain A.

A feeding station B is arranged to feed lumberonto chain A so that the lumber can be carried longitudinally down the chain.

A plurality of stops C .are selectively actuated to stop the pieces of lumber at a selected one of the several positions.

A printing apparatus generally indicated at D is arranged at selected positions relative to stops C and which when actuated lift the lumber off of chain A and hold the piece of lumber in a relatively fixed position so that a trim saw mechanism E can cut the lumber to size.

Printing apparatus D simultaneously ,marks the lumber in the manner as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 with lines running transverse the longitudinal axis of the lum her to indicate the stud positions or other useful markings.

After the printing operation printing mechanism D releases and a'clearing apparatus F is arranged to transversely move the marked and trimmed lumber to a position on the chain out of engagement with stops C so that the piece of lumber can be moved longitudinally down the chain to a stacking and sorting station of conventional design schematically illustrated by box G.

Live chain A consists of a row of rollers 20 rotated by a belt, chain or other mechanism as indicated at 22 so that each of the rollers is rotated in such a way as to-cause pieces of lumber resting on top of the rollers to be carried down the length of the live chain.

Feeding station B is of conventional design of the type allowing delivery of lumber to chain A in' parallel alignment with the longitudinal axis of the chain. The feeding station is arranged to deliver the lumber to one side of the chain so that the lumber will be carried along one side of the chain such as indicated by the'numer'als 25 in the drawing.

A guide 26 may be extended upwardly from side 25 to prevent the lumber from being moved off the chain. Other guide or biasing forces may be employed to retain the lumber against or near guide 26, such as for example, the rollers could be located on a slight tilting bias or there might be mechanical guides directed to hold the lumber toward side 25 as it is carried down the chain.

Stops C are spaced approximately two feet apart so that, as viewed in FIG. 2, the various stops numbered 31 through 37 can each alternatively be selected to cause the lumber coming down the chain to be stopped at the actuated stop. The respective stops 31 through 37 are arranged two feet apart for forming conveniently selected lengths of lumber.

Trim saw mechanism E is positioned approximately eight feet from stop 31, ten feet from stop 32, twelve feet from stop 33, fourteen feet from stop 34, sixteen feet from step 35, eighteen feet from stop 35 and twenty feet from stop 37.

Each of the stops C comprises a hydraulically or pneumatically operated cylinder indicated at 49 which is arranged to move a stop arm 41 into and out of lumber stop engagement adjacent chain A. The operator can thus visually determine the approximate minimum length of a board coming down chain A. He then may cause the particular stop C which is the approximate same minimum distance from the trim-saw mechanism E to be actuated. By this means, for example, if a twenty foot plus board were to come down the chain, stop 37 would be actuated. If an eight foot plu-s board were to similarly come down the chain, stop .31 would be actuated.

The control mechanism for each. of the stops is not shown but it is understood that such can comprise any conventional hydraulic or pneumatic control panel which would allow the independent actuation of each of the respective stops 31 through 37.

Printing apparatus D is formed by a plurality of printing stations as indicated at 48. Each printing station comprises a printing block or head 50 mounted under the board and in between the respective rollers 20 and a top, printing block 51 mounted over block 50. The blocks 50 and 51 are caused to move upwardly and downwardly respectively against the lumber indicated at 53 in FIG. 1 by hydraulic mechanisms 55 and 56 respectively. 'Thus after the lumber piece 53 is stopped in position by one of the-respective stops 31 through 37 the bank of hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders 55 and 56 are actuated to cause the compression contact of the two printing blocks 50 and 51. The blocks compress against the lumber causing the conventional printing head on the blocks to print indicia on the lumber and also frictionally compress the lumber piece 53 so as to prevent movement of the piece while hydraulic mechanisms 55 and 56 are actuated.

Printing heads 50 and 51 are of any common design that will allow the printing head to be inked prior to contact with the lumber.

While the lumber is held in position by the printing heads, trim saw mechanism E is actuated to trim the lumber to the precise dimension required. As indicated previously, trim saw mechanism E is mounted on even foot distances from the respective stops so that if a piece of lumber is stopped by stop 31' trim saw mechanism B will trim an eight foot stud and correspondingly if the lumber is stopped by stop 34 trim saw mechanism B will trim a fourteen foot stud.

The structureof lower printing head 50 is of sufiicient length to lift the lumber oif of frictional contact with the rollers so that the board is free of any moving bias that might otherwise be created by the rollers action against the lumber and therefore prevents burning of the lumber by the rollers. V 'Printing stations 48 are located, in the principal embodiment of. the invention, at sixteeninch intervals, with the printing stations being aligned directly with stops 31, 33, 35 and 37.

' Printing heads 50 and 51 are arranged to provide three lines, as indicated in FIG. 4, at 60, 61 and 62. The two outer lines 60 and 62 are spaced four inches apart and the center line 61 is spaced midway between the two outer lines.. Thus lines 60 and 62 prescribe the outer markings for studs and line 61 indicates the center mark- With boards of the eight, fourteen, sixteen and twenty foot lengths only center marker 61 and end marker 62 are provided.

It can thus be seen that a predetermined pattern of markings is etfected on the lumber which is in registration relative to the stop at which the lumber is held. By this means a variety of regular patterns can be obtained.

Although this principal embodiment is described primarily in relation to the use of three line markings for the studs location on the plates for building structures it is believed obvious that the device could be re-arranged .to create other useful markings.

It is also noted that the principal embodiment of the invention is shownwith printing blocks 50 and 51 which .provide for printing on both sides of the lumber stock. ,It is-believed obvious that the top printing block 51 could be eliminated and a stationary stop substituted there- .4 for. In such event the lumber would be printed only on the bottom. Clearing apparatus F is formed in cross-section generally in the shape of a paddle wheel having lumber moving arms 65 mounted on a rotatable shaft 66 which extends above live chain A. There are a plurality of sets 1 of arms 65 spaced along the shaft 66 as indicated in FIG. 2. Arms 65 upon rotation will engage lumber 53 and move it beyond the area of stops C so that the lumber may travel down live rollers 20 to the stacking and sorting station G.

Arms 65 are rotated by a hydraulic or pneumatic motor 70 which operates a ratchet mechanism 71. in such a way as to cause arms 65 to move one notch each time the motor is energized.

In operation of the device lumber is fed from feeding station B onto chain A.

The operator of the device makes a calculated guess as to the minimum length of the lumber and selects the approximate one of the stops C, numbered 31 through 37, for actuation and thereafter actuates the selected stop. The selected stop then stops the movement of the lumber in the stop whereinafter the pneumatic or bydraulic motors 55 and 56 are actuated to cause printing heads 50 and 51 to engage the piece of lumber, simultaneously printing the indicia on the lumber and holding the lumber in a fixed condition.

Trim saw mechanism E is then actuated to trim the lumber to its proper length. Thereafter hydraulic mechanisms 55 and 56 are reactivated so that the lumber rests again on live rollers 20. Pneumatic or hydraulic motor 70 is then actuated to cause ratchet mechanism 71 to rotate arms 65 thus moving the piece of lumber onto the opposite side of the live rollers 20 and freeing the piece of lumber for continued movement down the chain A' to the stacking and sorting station G. r

The device of this invention is thus capable ofprinting indicia on the lumber registered with the ends of the piece of lumber and in so doing the device simultaneously holds the lumber in position so that it may be trimmed to a desired length. Thus the indicia markings on the lumber is registered in precise alignment with both ends of the piece of lumber. This is an important feature in that it allows the repeated production of lumber having markings registered relative to both ends of the lumber and thus the lumber may be used in certain building operations for connecting various studs or other members or for predetermined layout building conditions.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed: I

1. In a device for trimming and marking lumber used in connection with a live chain the combination of means for stopping the longitudinal movement of lumber on the chain at selected predetermined fixed positions; printing head means mounted under the chain and in registration with lumber stopped by said stop means; means to move said printing head means up against the lumber sufiiciently to raise the lumber above the live chain while the lumber is held in the stopped position bysaid stop means; means above the lumber to prevent upward movement of the lumber beyond a fixed point whereby said printing head means is enabled to hold the lumber in a fixed position; and trim saw means operable to cut the lumber while the lumber is held in the fixed position.

2. In a device for trimming and marking lumber used in connection with a live chain the combination of a plurality of stop means mounted along said chain; means alternatively selectively actuating said stop means to cause the stop means to stop the longitudinal movement of lumber on the chain at selected predetermined fixed positions; printing head means located in axial alignment relative to each other above and below lumber carried by said chain and in vertical registration with the lumber stopped by said stop means; means to move said printing head means inwardly to a position to raise the lumber above the live chain and to hold the lumber sandwiched between the printing heads; and trim saw means adaptable to cut lumber held by the printing head means located at predetermined distances from the various stop means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Richards Aug. 14,

Locke Nov. 12,

Mitchell Oct. 24,

Carman Dec. 25,

Oholm May 28,

Rogers Mar. 10, 

1. IN A DEVICE FOR TRIMMING AND MARKING LUMBER USED IN CONNECTION WITH A LIVE CHAIN THE COMBINATION OF MEANS FOR STOPPING THE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF LUMBER ON THE CHAIN AT SELECTED PREDETERMINED FIXED POSITION; PRINTING HEAD MEANS MOUNTED UNDER THE CHAIN AND IN REGISTRATION WITH LUMBER STOPPED BY SAID STOP MEANS; MEANS TO MOVE SAID PRINTING HEAD MEANS UP AGAINST THE LUMBER SUFFICIENTLY TO RAISE THE LUMBER ABOVE THE LIVE CHAIN WHILE THE LUMBER IS HELD IN THE STOPPED POSITION BY SAID STOP MEANS; MEANS ABOVE THE LUMBER TO PREVENT UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE LUMBER BEYOND A FIXED POINT WHEREBY SAID PRINTING HEAD MEANS IS ENABLED TO HOLD THE LUMBER IN A 